2008 Toyota 4Runner Complaint Log

2008 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE DID IN FACT EXPERIENCE AN ISSUE, WITH THE ACCELERATOR JAMMING. PART OF THE REASON WAS ONE OF THE LITTLE PLASTIC HOOKS, THAT SECURED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT HAD BROKEN OFF, ALLOWING THE MAT TO SLIP FORWARD UNDER THE ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, ONLY TO LEARN, THERE WERE NO PARTS TO PERFORM THE REPAIR, THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY PARTS IN A LONG TIME, AND THEY HAD NO IDEA WHEN THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE PARTS.

I AM TRYING TO GET RESOLUTION FOR RECALLS THAT NEED TO COMPLETED MY TRUCK. I HAVE CALLED THE TOYOTA RECALL CENTER ON 30 JANUARY, 13 MAY, AND ONE OTHER DATE THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER ABOUT THE STATUS OF GETTING MY TRUCK FIXED. MY TOYOTA RECALL CASE # IS [XXX]. I AM STATIONED IN GERMANY SERVING IN THE ARMY. BASED ON CONVERSATIONS WITH TOYOTA RECALL CENTER THAT THERE IS NO TIME FRAME TO GET A RESOLUTION FOR THE RECALL ON MY TRUCK FIXED BECAUSE I LIVE IN GERMANY. IT HAS BEEN OVER 100 DAYS WITH NO RESOLUTION. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THE PARTS AND LABOR COMPLETED BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS ALL ACROSS GERMANY. ANY ASSISTANCE ON THIS MATTER WOULD BE HELPFUL BECAUSE I AM GETTING NO WHERE. THE PHONE NUMBER BELOW WILL NOT WORK. PLEASE DIAL [XXX]TO CALL ME IN GERMANY OR EMAIL ME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF BUTTON ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE ABS LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE WARNING LIGHTS NOT BEING ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THERE IS CORROSION IN THE FRAME AND DRIVE-TRAIN COMPONENTS. THERE IS PITTING, RUSTING THROUGHOUT THE FRAME UNDERCARRIAGE AND THE SUSPENSION AND DIFFERENTIAL COMPONENTS. THIS BARELY 4YR OLD VEHICLE IS A SOUTHERN VEHICLE. REGARDLESS, THIS CORROSION IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN ANY VEHICLE LET ALONE IN A 4RUNNER WITH A SERVICE INCEPTION DATE OF 11/30/2008 WITH 19K MILES. THIS IS TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. YES, IT (SHOULD BE) COVERED BY WARRANTY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IT IS MANUFACTURER'S LIABILITY TO CORRECT SAFETY/QUALITY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE WIPER SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER SWITCH AND THE WIPER MOTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR IT'S 30,000 MILE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A COUPLE OF THOUSAND MILES SHY OF THE REQUIRED SERVICE. THEY ROTATED THE TIRES ALONG WITH THE OTHER SCHEDULED SERVICES. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS (LESS THAN 2 WEEKS) I NOTICED THAT IT SHIMMIED ON THE HIGHWAY, SOMETHING IT HAD NEVER DONE PREVIOUSLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, DUNNING TOYOTA OF ANN ARBOR, WHERE THEY PERFORMED ANOTHER $50.00 WORTH OF WORK AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT SHOULD BE BETTER NOW, BUT MY TIRES WERE CUPPED SO IT WOULDN'T RUN TOTALLY SMOOTH AGAIN UNLESS I PURCHASED NEW TIRES. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE CUPPING WAS MOST LIKELY THE RESULT OF IT BEING OFF BALANCE FOR A WHILE WHICH MAKES NO SENSE TO ME SINCE THE DEALER WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD EVER TOUCHED IT. THESE TIRES ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A LIFE OF 50K MILES. BE IT POOR SERVICE OR POOR TIRES, I'M TRULY DISAPPOINTED. I WAS ALWAYS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT MICHELIN TIRES WERE HIGHLY RATED. NOW I'M NOT IMPRESSED BY EITHER THE BRAND NAME NOR DUNNING. *TR

REAR HATCH DOOR LATCH FAILURE. THE HATCH RELEASE HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNABLE TO OPEN THE HATCH IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF. INITIALLY I THOUGHT FOR SEVERAL YEARS THAT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED PROBLEM BUT QUICKLY FOUND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS DEFECTIVE HATCH RELEASE. TOYOTA HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON NEW MODELS AND IN JAPAN BUT 2007-2008 MODELS IN THE U.S. STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART. IN THE CASE OF A FLAT TIRE & RETRIEVAL OF THE SPARE TIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY, THERE IS NO WAY TO GET THE HATCH OPENED. SEARCHING YOUR OWN DATABASE WILL UNCOVER COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE REGARDING THE DEFECTIVE HATCH RELEASE. PLEASE ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL FOR TOYOTA MODEL YEARS OF 2007-2008 WITH THIS DEFECTIVE LATCH RELEASE MECHANISM. THANK YOU.

DRIVING 45 MPH (SPEED LIMIT) ON DRY PAVEMENT, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE 80 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. LEFT SIDE FRONT BRIDGESTONE DUELER HT 684 II 265/65R17 110S TIRE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TIRE, REMAINDER OF TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING SIGNS AND BLOWOUT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT OF 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5, BLEW ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER OFF VEHICLE. DAMAGE ESTIMATE IS NOT YET IN. THIS OCCURRED MAY 2, 2012. ON OCTOBER 13, 2011, RIGHT FRONT DUELER HT II 265/65R17 110S TIRE BLEW ON WET ROADS, VEHICLE DAMAGED OVER $14,000.00 COVERED BY GEICO INSURANCE. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THIS INCIDENT BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS LOANED TO DRIVER NOT AUTHORIZED BY MY AMICA INSURANCE POLICY. POLICE REPORTS STATE MECHANICAL FAILURE ON BOTH INCIDENTS. STILL HAVE TWO MORE OF SAME TIRE ON REAR.

WHEN ENGAGING DRIVE FROM REVERSE THERE IS A DELAY OF 3-5 SECONDS AND A THUMP WHEN IT FINALLY ENGAGES DRIVE. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND HAS CAUSED SOME SCARES WERE MY WIFE THOUGHT THE CAR ENGAGED DRIVE, PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR, CAR DID NOT MOVE AND THEN SUDDENLY CAR JUMPING FORWARD SINCE SHE HAD APPLIED GAS THINKING THE VEHICLE HAD ENGAGED DRIVE. TOOK TO DEALER EXPLAINED ISSUE AND WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE WITH SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER PEOPLES VEHICLES, THEY WANTED TO CHARGE 119.99 TO SIMPLY DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE, EVEN AFTER SHOWING THEM THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I PRINTED FROM THE INTERNET. *TT

I PURCHASED 4 SUMITOMO ALL TERRAIN 110 TIRES ON 3/04/2011. ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2011 THE DRIVER REAR TIRE EXPLODED CREATING A VISIBLE HOLE. *TR

MY TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A CONSISTENT AMMONIA SMELL THAT LEAKS INTO THE CABIN. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR A MONTH AND HATCH TOYOTA DENIES IT'S A PROBLEM. MY WIFE AND I FEAR FOR OUR HEALTH BECAUSE OF THIS ODOR. THE FORUMS REPORT THIS PROBLEM AS FAR BACK AS 2003, BUT TOYOTA SAYS THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEM. *TR

A STEERING VIBRATION OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 MPH TO 80 MPH. A NEW SET OF TIRES WHERE INSTALLED AND BALANCED PROPERLY AT DISCOUNT TIRE BUT THE STEERING VIBRATION WOULD NOT GO AWAY. THEN I HAD THE STORE CHANGE THE TIRES AND INSTALL ANOTHER SET OF FOUR THINKING BAD TIRES WHERE INSTALLED. THE TIRES ARE DUNLOP GRANDTREK AT 20 WHAT TOYOTA ORIGINALLY PUTS ON THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE STEERING VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED A MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I EVEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BALANCE THEM AND THEY ALSO CHECKED THE STEERING AND SUSPENSIONS AND TIRES AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL VIBRATIONS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED THEY FAILED TO ENGAGE AND MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE CONTACT THEN RELEASED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AGAIN WITH EXTREME PRESSURE UNTIL THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33971.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD FALLEN ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE PEDAL WOULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,000.

APPROX 1 WEEK PRIOR TO 6/15 I STARTED HEARING AN INTERMITTENT SQUEAK WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. I TOOK MY 4 RUNNER IN TO HAVE TOYOTA LOOK AT IT, 2 DAYS LATER THEY DETERMINED IT "MUST BE" THE BRAKE PUMP. MY CAR IS 4,000 MILES PAST WARRANTY. NO ONE CAN TELL ME IF IT IS SAFE TO KEEP DRIVING UNTIL I GET IT FIXED AND WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF IT GOES OUT. *TR

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED IN OUR 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE SITTING IN A TURN LANE, FOOT ON BRAKE, TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY INCREASED POWER DRAMATICALLY ON ITS OWN. WITH FOOT ON BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. IT CONTINUED FORWARD FOR ABOUT 800 FEET BEFORE IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. NO DAMAGES OR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TOYOTA DEALER CAME AND GOT IT. SAID THEY WILL RUN TESTS. THIS WAS NOT A IMAGINED EVENT. THIS IS OUR SECOND 4RUNNER MODEL AND WE HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS INCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, I NOTE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON TOYOTA'S CURRENT RECALL LIST. THERE IS NOTHING TOYOTA CAN SAY OR DO THAT WOULD RESTORE MY SAFETY CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THUS, WE WILL TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER BRAND ONCE WE GET IT BACK. I WOULD LIKE FOR NHTSA TO CONSIDER REQUIRING TOYOTA TO PUT THIS VEHICLE MODEL ON THEIR RECALL LIST. EVEN ONE DEFECT OF THIS NATURE IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR ALSO 10328962 SMCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 21,000. ALSO 10329513 SMCH

I HAVE A 2008 4RUNNER. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY WITH THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY. THIS MORNING I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE POST OFFICE WHERE THERE ARE ALWAYS PEOPLE WALKING IN FRONT A ND IN BACK OF YOUR VEHICLE. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE BACK UP THEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS THE CAR CONTINUED TO GO IN REVERSE. THIS WAS VERY SCARY. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND LOOKED DOWN TO MAKE SURE I WAS IN DRIVE. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, I THEN PRESSED THE GAS AGAIN, THE CAR WAITED ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND WHEN FORWARD WITH A BURST OF ENERGY. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE BUT NOT WITH THIS DISTINCTION. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN A PARKING LOT WHERE PEOPLE ARE WALKING CONSTANTLY. *TR

MY FIANCE HAD PURCHASED A 2008 4 RUNNER FROM A LOCAL DEALER ABOUT 1 AND 1/2 YEARS AGO . WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ALIGNMENT ON THIS VEHICLE, WHICH HAVWE3 BEEN LOOKED AT, AND SUPPOSIDLY "FIXED" BEFORE. THE LAST TIME IT WAS "FIXED" WAS ABOUTN 6 MONTHS AGO. TODAY WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE RIDDEN , FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IN IT. WE TOOK ABOUT A 3 6 HOUR TRIP IN IT AND WITHIN ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TRYING TO GET IT FIXED FOR HER. ME BEING AN ALFRED STATE GRADUATE AND AROUND CARS ALL OF MY LIFE KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. FEELS LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CASTER IN THE VEHICLE. IT DARTS LANES . I WAS NONE THE LESS AGGRIVATED WHEN SHE CALLED ME CRYING TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH HER VEHICLE, OR AS THE TECH HAD TOLD HER "IT WAS NORMAL. THIS WILL BECOME A PROBLEM WHEN HER VEHICLE DARTS TO ANOTHER LANE, KILLS SOMEONE, AND WE ARE LEFT TO PAY FOR SUCH AND UNFORTUNATE SITUATION. THE ONLY THING THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN DO IS REFUND HER EXTENDED WARRANTY MONEY THAT AT CLOSING, THAT WAS TOLD TO US, WAS TOLD TO US WAS IT ONLY DID NOT COVER BRAKES AND TIRES. THIS IS NOT A PITTY LETTER BUT A PLEASE HELP US AND OTHERS THAT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY. *TR

2008 TOYOTA RAV4 BEGAN RACING BADLY, TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, THE TOYOTA DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. WE WERE DRIVING INTO OUR GARAGE, WAITED FOR THE DOOR TO OPEN WHEN THE CAR STARTED RACING VERY BADLY. I AM AFRAID TO USE THE CAR, WHAT CAN WE DO? *TR

2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT - WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE. ESTIMATE ABOUT 15-20% FAILURE. FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS THE VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IN NEUTRAL. IF I DO NOT REALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND APPLY GAS, WHEN IT FINALLY ENGAGES, THE CAR DANGEROUSLY LURCHES FORWARD. FAIRLY SURE IT IS AN ELECTRONIC ISSUE. HAS OCCURRED SINCE PURCHASE. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. RESPONSES 1) CAN'T REPEAT AND CAN'T START CHANGING PARTS BECAUSE MAY TRIGGER LEMON LAW, 2) CAN'T REPEAT AND NO ONE ELSE HAS REPORTED, 3) CAN'T REPEAT, SO WE WILL LOOK AT IT AGAIN WHEN YOU BRING IN FOR NEXT OIL CHANGE. DESPITE MY EXPLAINING REPEATEDLY THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN DEALER HAS SHOWN NO REAL INTEREST TO RESOLVE. MY HOME'S DRIVEWAY IS ON A BLIND CURVE AND I WILL NOT BACK INTO ROAD BECAUSE I CAN NOT BE SURE I CAN ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED. THIS HAS REPEATED REGULARLY SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE OVER A YEAR AGO. I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF CLOSE CALLS IN PARKING LOTS AND IT IS INEVITABLE THAT I WILL BE REAR-ENDED IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED. *TR

WE HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT. WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS GO INTO DRIVE. YOU PRESS THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU THEN HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NORMAL". THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS IF WE ARE BACKING UP ONTO A ROAD OR ANYWHERE BY THAT MEANS AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THE EXTRA TIME PUTTING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE IT WASTE VALUABLE TIME. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT APPROX 70% OF THE TIME. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS DRIVING 40MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND BECAME STUCK AND THE SPEED INCREASED TO 90MPH. THE CONTACT STATED SHE JAMMED HER FEET ON THE BRAKES, PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. SHE THEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF AS THE ENGINE RESET ITSELF. SHE THEN DROVE SLOWLY HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TWICE AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR. HER HUSBAND HAD TO PULL THE PEDAL UP MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THATA REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE COMING FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR MAINTENANCE DONE TO THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,236.

WE HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT. WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS GO INTO DRIVE. YOU PRESS THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU THEN HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NORMAL". THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS IF WE ARE BACKING UP ONTO A ROAD OR ANYWHERE BY THAT MEANS AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THE EXTRA TIME PUTTING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE IT WASTE VALUABLE TIME. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT APPROX 70% OF THE TIME. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR

WE HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT. WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS GO INTO DRIVE. YOU PRESS THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU THEN HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NORMAL". THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS IF WE ARE BACKING UP ONTO A ROAD OR ANYWHERE BY THAT MEANS AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THE EXTRA TIME PUTTING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE IT WASTE VALUABLE TIME. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT APPROX 70% OF THE TIME. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR

INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 28, 2010. I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER SR5 WITH 13 K MILES, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND NO ONE HAS DRIVEN THE VEHICLE BUT ME. VEHICLE PURCHASED AT LEGACY TOYOTA. STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT; WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, I PLACED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR TO DRIVE OFF. NOTHING HAPPENED! EXCEPT A SLIGHT FORWARD MOVE! AGAIN I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR! NOTHING HAPPENED! BY THIS TIME I HAD ROLLED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME! AGAIN APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR AND AFTER A MOMENT THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND BEGAN TO MOVE THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY FORWARD. I RELEASED THE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR AND BRIEFLY TOUCHED THE BRAKE, WHEN ALL SEEMED TO RETURN TO NORMAL, FEBRUARY 1, 2010 REPORT THE INCIDENT AS IT OCCURRED TO LEGACY TOYOTA. DEALER REACTED WITH NO CONCERNS. *TR UPDATED IVOQ 03/1/6/11

STARTED MY 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ENGINE RACED UNCONTROLLABLY TO AROUND 7-8000 RPM AND SHUDDERED TERRIBLY. IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN TRIED IT AGAIN. DID SAME THING. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS AND SAID THERE WEREN'T ANY CODES STORED IN THE COMPUTER. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL TOYOTA TECHNICAL TO REPORT ISSUE. NEVER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. THIS INCIDENT ONLY REINFORCES THE BELIEF THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUES OTHER THAN THE "RECALL FIX". I BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER, SR5, 4WD. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY APPLIES WHAT FEELS LIKE THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE. THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT 30-50 MPH ON DOWNHILL GRADES. I AM APPLYING MILD BRAKING WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURS TO CONTROL THE DOWNHILL SPEED. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING IS INTERMITTENT AND EACH TIME A LOUD BEEP IS HEARD FROM THE DASH AREA. THE EFFECT TENDS TO PULL THE VEHICLE STRONGLY TO THE LEFT. IT CREATES A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION THAT IS DIFFICULT TO REACT TO AND COMPENSATE FOR. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT OR ANTICIPATE THAT THE INCIDENT WILL OCCUR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN LATE JANUARY 2009 FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AN INCIDENT OR LOCATE ANYTHING ABNORMAL. I REMAIN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN DOWNHILL CONDITIONS. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD. *TR

I WAS IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS IN DEC 2009-JAN 2010 WHERE THE TEMPERATURES WERE VERY LOW AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUTDOORS. TEMPS WERE MID 20S IN THE DAY TIME AND MID TEENS AT NIGHT. NO ICING WAS AN ISSUE. I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER INTO A PARKING SPACE SLOWLY AROUND 2 PM GETTING READY TO APPLY THE BRAKES. BEFORE I COULD DO SO THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID STOP, HOWEVER IT HAD TRAVELED APPROX 10 FT BEFORE I COULD DO SO AND IT SLAMMED INTO A TREE. I OWNED A NEW 2003 4-RUNNER AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JAN 2008 NEW. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS CRASH RESULTED IN $1768.35 IN DAMAGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY REMOVED MY ALL WEATHER MATS. (I INSPECTED THESE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND THEY WERE IN PLACE AS THEY SHOULD BE LOCKED DOWN) TOYOTA SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND SENT A LETTER THAT STATED "NO SYSTEM FAILURE WAS FOUND IN EITHER THE BRAKING SYSTEM OR THE ACCELERATOR SYSTEM" THEY FURTHER STATED THAT "THE FACT YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT SAFETY SERVICE CAMPAIGN INVOLVING FLOOR MATS/UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WOULD INDICATE THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT THE RESULT OF THIS ISSUE." ??? IF NOT WHAT IS THE ISSUE..CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER ? THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE ONLY VEHICLES AFFECTED WERE MADE IN THE USA AND MY VEHICLE WAS MADE IN JAPAN, THEREFORE IT WAS NOT HAVING A PROBLEM. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT TIME AND I GO OFF A CLIFF. WE NEED SOME ANSWERS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I SPENT ALOT OF MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE AND I AM NOT SURE IT IS SAFE AND IF I SELL IT I STAND TO LOSE ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP ME FROM BUYING A VEHICLE OF EQUAL VALUE. WE NEED TO PUT OUR FOOT DOWN AND MAKE THEM SOLVE THIS. THANK YOU NHTSA. *TR

I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER CHANGING GEARS. FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN I GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ENGAGE GEARS. JUST YESTERDAY NOT ONLY DID THE VEHICLE NOT ENGAGE, BUT WHEN I WENT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE (I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE) AND I STEPPED ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, ALMOST HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY AND COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO DAMAGE AND/OR DEATH. *TR

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 4WD. I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER, 2008. BY THE FALL OF 2009 I NOTICED A SPORADICALLY OCCURRING DELAY IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHILE SWITCHING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, LASTING APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT, OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A U-TURN. STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I FIRST TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN NOVEMBER OF 2009. UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, THEY RESET THE CAR'S "CPU" AND I RETURNED HOME, ONLY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CONTINUE. AFTER THREE MORE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE LAST IN MAY, 2010, THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT STOPPED RETURNING MY PHONE CALLS AND FAILED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. SINCE FEBRUARY 2010 I HAVE DOCUMENTED OVER 45 OCCURRENCES OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAVE OCCURRED AS FREQUENTLY AS 4 TIMES IN ONE DAY AND AS INFREQUENTLY AS A MONTH APART. THE MOST DISTURBING INCIDENCE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY URBAN STREET WHILE MAKING A 3-POINT U-TURN. WITH THE DELAY LASTING A SOLID 5 SECONDS, IT IS AN UNSETTLING EXPERIENCE NOT KNOWING WHEN AND WHERE THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WOULD/COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNDER WARRANTY WITHOUT GETTING THE CAR TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY VIDEOTAPED THE EXPERIENCE WHILE IN THE CAR, BUT WHEN I SHARED IT WITH THE SERVICE PEOPLE, IT PROVED FUTILE. I ALSO DISCOVERED AN ONLINE TOYOTA 4RUNNER FORUM (T4R.ORG) IN WHICH OTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS SHARED THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FACT, AND STOPPED MAKING ANY ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AS OF LAST JUNE. I AM FRUSTRATED BY MY EXPERIENCE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED SO I CAN DRIVE WITH THE PEACE OF MIND KNOWING THAT MY CAR IS SAFE. TO DATE, NO REPAIRS OR PARTS REPLACEMENTS OF ANY KIND HAVE BEEN MADE BY TOYOTA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 100 MPH WITHOUT INTENTION. AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION HE WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT A REMEDY WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL 2010. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,380.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AS A RESULT OF THE PEDAL STICKING. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION WITH EXTREME CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENTIONALLY WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH SUCH FORCE THAT SHE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT THEY DESTROYED THE ROTORS AND THE PADS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO PICK IT UP. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WHEN YOU REMOVE THE FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BEFORE YOU STEP ON THE GAS, AT TIMES THE CAR MAKES A THUMPING SOUND WHICH YOU CAN FEEL. POSSIBLY TRANSMISSION. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEM AND CANT RECREATE THE THUMPING. IT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. *TR

MY 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER HAS A CLUNKING SOUND AS I AM ABOUT TO TAKE OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. I CAN TELL WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE WHEN I AM ALMOST STOPPED, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, MY CAR FEELS LIKE IT SURGES FORWARD. I HAVE TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE PRETTY HARD TO KEEP IT FROM DOING THIS. THEN WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO PROCEED, THERE IS A "CLUNK" FROM THE BACK END. I TOOK IT TO MY TOTALLY DEALERSHIP TODAY BECAUSE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY (I'VE HAD IT FOR A MONTH AND IT HAS DONE IT EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT). THE DEALERSHIP CALLED THE TOYOTA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SYSTEM. THE ANSWER THEY GOT...THE CONDITION IS A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION AND THAT NO REPAIR ATTEMPT SHOULD BE MADE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE DRIVESHAFT SLIP YOLK EXTENDING AND RETRACTING AND IS NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE. HERE IS MY CASE NUMBER - 091880146, REPAIR ORDER NUMBER - 13509, CASE DATE - 7/7/09, TAS HOTLINE NUMBER 1-800-233-3718. *TR

SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER COMING TO A STOP I FEEL A BUMP AS THOUGH I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THIS STARTED FROM DAY ONE OF PURCHASE. IT WAS CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. NOW IT HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS STARTING OUT FROM STOPPED POSITION AS WELL AND HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY.

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5. I PURCHASED IT NEW FROM MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN NOVEMBER, 2008. BY THE SPRING OF 2009 I NOTICED A SPORADICALLY OCCURRING DELAY IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHILE SWITCHING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, LASTING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 8 SECONDS. THIS WOULD HAPPEN RIGHT AFTER SWITCHING FROM R(REVERSE) TO D (DRIVE). MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THEY ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WOULD/COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNDER WARRANTY WITHOUT GETTING THE CAR TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM. I LEFT MY CAR FOR OVERNIGHT WITH THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I AM FRUSTRATED BY MY EXPERIENCE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM RESOLVED SO I CAN DRIVE WITH THE PEACE OF MIND KNOWING THAT MY CAR IS SAFE. TO DATE, NO REPAIRS OR PARTS REPLACEMENTS OF ANY KIND HAVE BEEN MADE BY TOYOTA TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I ALSO DISCOVERED AN ONLINE TOYOTA 4RUNNER FORUM (T4R.ORG) IN WHICH OTHER TOYOTA 4RUNNER OWNERS SHARED THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I KNOW IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, BUT A YEAR AGO I HAD AN ACCIDENT THAT FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUDDEN ACCELLERATION. NO ONE AT THE TIME BELIEVED ME WHEN I SAID THAT I DID NOTHING WRONG, THAT THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF. IN FEBRUARY 2009 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AT AROUND 6 AM, EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. THEN THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER I FELT THE CAR GO OVER A CURB AND RUN INTO A BUILDING. THE DAMAGE WAS GREAT TO THE VEHICLE. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 35 MILES/HOUR. I REMEMBER PRESSING ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT. I WAS CHARGED WITH CARELESS DRIVING, HAD TO PAY TO FIX THE BUILDING AND MY CAR, AND I NOW ALSO HAVE HIGHER INSURANCE COST. THIS HAPPENED IN FLORENCE SC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE DAYTIME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND HIM A $300 VOUCHER FOR THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT HE ONLY WANTS THE ISSUE REPAIRED SO THAT HE CAN SEE THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,500. UPDATED 03/10/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/11/09. *JB

EVERY TIME I TAKE A TIGHT LEFT U TURN, WITH MY 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER, A METAL TO METAL THUMPING SOUND OCCURS. MY TOYOTA SERVICE MAN SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THAT TOYOTA NO LONGER PROVIDES A RUBBER PIECE BETWEEN THE TWO OFFENDING METAL PARTS LIKE IT DID IN THE PREVIOUS GENERATIONS OF 4 RUNNERS. *TR

WE HAVE A 2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SPORT. WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS GO INTO DRIVE. YOU PRESS THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. YOU THEN HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NORMAL". THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS IF WE ARE BACKING UP ONTO A ROAD OR ANYWHERE BY THAT MEANS AND WE HAVE TO SPEND THE EXTRA TIME PUTTING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO DRIVE IT WASTE VALUABLE TIME. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, BUT APPROX 70% OF THE TIME. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. *TR

NEW, FROM 15,000- 25, 000 MILES, 2008 TOYOTA FOUR RUNNER, JERKING WHEN ACCELERATED ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS AS IF THE SHIFT GEAR OR TRANSMISSION IS NOT PROPERLY WORKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER THE 15, 000 MILE SERVICE. FIRST DEALERSHIP WORKERS STATED NOTHING WRONG. CURRENT DEALERSHIP HAS NOT CHECKED FOR CAUSE NOR HAVE THEY OFFERED A SOLUTION. CAR REMAINS AT DEALERSHIP. SECOND ISSUE, MOST RECENT INCIDENT, SAME VEHICLE AT 25, 000 MILES WHEN ACCELERATED ON THE FREEWAY, JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY, WORST THAN BEFORE, ACCELERATED TO FAST SPEED (FLOOR MAT WAS SECURED), WOULD NOT BRAKE. DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO MOVE TO EXIT. ENGINE REMAINED REVVED UP. BRAKES SLOWED BUT DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. ABLE TO MOVE TO EXIT...HEAVY TRAFFIC. I COULD HAVE REARED ENDED MANY VEHICLES. SMOKE AND BURNING ODOR FROM BRAKE AREA. DEALERSHIP STATES FLOOR MAT WAS STUCK WHICH IS NOT TRUE, AS WITNESSED BY A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. VEHICLE HAS MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERMIT OWNER TO RETAIN LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. DEALER HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR JERKING OR SHIFTING/TRANSMISSION ISSUE NOR BURNING ODOR/SMOKE ISSUE. REFUSES TO PROVIDE OWNER WITH CORPORATE CONTACT OR DISTRICT MANAGER INFORMATION. DRIVER NEEDS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT CHILD TO MEDICAL APPTS. ONE HOUR AWAY FROM HOMESITE ON WEEKLY BASIS. *TR

TOYOTA ISSUED A SHORT TERM WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT, EXPIRING MARCH 2018, FOR A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT. I BELIEVE THAT THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT AND THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS OPPOSED TO A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. THE DEFECT IS IN THE REAR WINDOW SEAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; USE OF THE DEFROSTER CAN CAUSE THE WINDOW TO BLOW OUT. MY CAR HAS A SIGNIFICANT BODY DEFECT ADJACENT TO THE REAR WINDOW SEAL, AND THE SEAL IS DAMAGED, INDICATING THAT THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I SPOKE WITH CORPORATE TOYOTA; THEIR STANCE IS THAT THEY WILL NOT DO THE REPAIR UNTIL AFTER THE WINDOW BLOWS OUT. IT IS LIKELY THAT TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME, AS THERE IS INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS, BUT HAS ONLY RECENTLY NOTIFIED OWNERS. WHEN I SPOKE TO TOYOTA, THEY ASKED WHAT THE MILEAGE WAS. I TOLD THEM IT HAD JUST REACHED THE 100,000 MILE MARK - AND THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS ALMOST 10 YEARS OLD AND HAD LASTED WELL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MY PART LED TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT RECALLS DO NOT HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AFTER 100,000 MILES, WHICH PROBABLY EXPLAINS THE DELAY IN NOTIFYING OWNERS, AND IN CALLING THIS, WHICH IS A DEFINITE AND SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT" INSTEAD OF A RECALL. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, OTHER THAN THAT, AND THE CHOICES WHICH I HAVE ARE TO AVOID USING THE DEFROSTER (NOT A VIABLE OPTION IN THE NORTHEAST), DO NOTHING AND WAIT FOR THE WINDOW TO BLOW OUT (NOT A SAFE OPTION); PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT, OR SELL THE CAR, WHICH I CAN'T DO IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, KNOWING THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THAT DEFECT. TOYOTA STATES THAT THE ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR WITH ALL CARS - THAT IS LIKELY TRUE. CARS IN DRY CLIMATES WITH MINIMAL RAIN AND COLD WEATHER ARE PROBABLY UNLIKELY TO MANIFEST; CARS IN THE WET AND SNOWY NORTHEAST, WHERE I LIVE, ARE PRESUMABLY MORE LIKELY TO MANIFEST.

2008 TOYOTA 4RUNNER CLUNK FELT AND HEARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKES TO GO. AFTER RESEARCHING IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DRIVESHAFT SLIP JOINT IN THE TOYOTA. THE LEXUS GX470 IS IDENTICAL YET LEXUS CUSTOMERS CAN HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED AND THERE IS A TSB ISSUED FOR THE LEXUS (L-SB-0116-08). *TR

WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES (POLARIZED) THE VEHICLE'S RADIO AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL DISPLAYS CANNOT BE READ. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO TAKE OFF OR LOWER THEIR PRESCRIPTION OR REGULAR SUNGLASSES IN ORDER TO READ THE DISPLAYS. DOING THIS WHILE DRIVING SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS ADDITIONAL DISTRACTED TIME IS USED TO READ THE DISPLAYS. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS IT'S A DESIGN ISSUE, NOTHING THEY CAN DO; THE NATIONAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER HAS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR